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As most of the known systems are flashtype, long-lasting chemiluminescence (CL) emissions are extremely needed for the application of cold light sources, accurate CL quantitative analysis, and biological mapping. In this work, the flashtype system of luminol was altered to a long lasting CL system just because of the paper substrate. The Cu(II)-based organic complex was loaded on the paper surface, which can trigger luminol-H2O2 to produce a long lasting CL emission for over 30 min. By using 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid (PDA) as the ligand, a hexacoordinated Cu(II)-based organic complex was synthesized by the simple freeze-drying method. It is interesting that the complex morphology can be controlled by adding different amounts of water in the synthesizing procedure. The complex with a certain size can be definitely trapped in the pores of the cellulose. Then, slow diffusion, which can be attributed to the long lasting CL emission, was produced. With the high catalytic activity of the complex, reactive oxygen species from H2O2 was generated and was responsible for the high CL intensity. By using the paper substrate, the flash-type luminol system can be easily transferred to the long-duration CL system without any extra reagent. This long-lasting emission system was used for hydrogen sulfide detection by the CL imaging method. This paper-based sensor has great potential for CL imaging in the clinical field in the future.

The wear and corrosion resistance of Ni-based niobium carbide (NbC) coatings were investigated via scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical polarization, electrochemicl impedance spectroscopy, digital microhardness testing and wear testing. The results showed that the substrate was mainly composed of a γ-Cr (Fe) solid solution, and the composite coating was composed of FeNi, NbC, and Ni. In addition, the hardness of the coating increased gradually with increasing NbC content. The optimal corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the coating were realized at an NbC content of 20%.

Research on the synthesis of heterocyclic scaffolds is an important challenge in organic synthesis because heterocycles are an important block in the structure of many drugs and pharmaceutical mole...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by activation of microglia is considered to be a major cause of neuronal dysfunction, which can lead to damage and death through direct oxidative damage to neuronal macromolecules or derangement of neuronal redox signaling circuits. BAP31, an integral ER membrane protein, has been defined as a regulatory molecule in the CNS. Our latest studies have found that BAP31 deficiency leads to activation of microglia. In this study, we discovered that BAP31 deficiency upregulated LPS-induced superoxide anion production in BV2 cells and mice by upregulating the expression level of p22phox and by inhibiting the activation of Nrf2-HO-1 signaling. Knockdown of p22phox/keap1 or use of an NADPH oxidase inhibitor (apocynin) reversed the production of superoxide anion and inflammatory cytokines, which then reduced neuronal damage and death in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that BAP31 deficiency contributes to microglia-related superoxide anion production and neuroinflammation through p22phox and keap1. Furthermore, the excess superoxide anion cooperated with inflammatory cytokines to induce the damage and death of neurons. Thus, we determined that BAP31 is an important regulator in superoxide anion production and neuroinflammation, and the downstream regulators or agonists of BAP31 could therefore be considered as potential therapeutic targets in microglial-related superoxide anion production and neuroinflammation.

Tellurium quantum dots (Te QDs) were prepared using bulk tellurium as the precursor. Te QDs can be a highly active photocatalyst for boosting the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The morphology and composition of Te QDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that in the presence of H2O2, the photocatalytic efficiency of Te QDs on RhB could achieve a good degradation effect within a very short time (30 min). The effects of initial dye concentration, pH value, light intensity, catalyst dosage and H2O2 concentration on dye degradation were successively studied. The effects of inorganic ions (NO3−, Cl−, SO42−, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Fe3+) on photocatalytic degradation were also discussed. Experimental results of free radical capture showed that OH• and O2•− played important roles in photocatalytic degradation. More importantly, Te QDs efficiency still remained above 85% after four cycles of use, indicating good stability, recyclability and utility. This work may inspire further design of other semiconductor QDs for highly efficient dye degradation.

As mercury ions (Hg2+) are emanated to surroundings in the course of various natural events and human activities, an accurate sensing of Hg2+ is essential for human health and environmental protection. Herein, a new aggregation-induced chemiluminescence (CL) sensor for fast, sensitive, and selective detection of Hg2+ is developed, based on the CL enhancement of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate (TCPO)-H2O2 system by thiolate-protected gold complexes (Au(I)-thiolate complexes) in the aggregated state. Because Hg2+ has a strong interaction with hydrosulfuryl (-SH) groups in Au(I)-thiolate complexes, the aggregation is disrupted and the CL is quenched. The decrease of CL intensity is proportional to Hg2+ contents with a linear range of 0.005–10 μg mL−1 and the limit of detection (LOD) is 3 ng mL−1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first AIE CL sensor for Hg2+ detection. The study opens up attractive perspectives for developing simple and rapid aggregation-induced CL methods in monitoring heavy metals.

Ag–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesised and used as cathode materials for the asymmetric electroreduction of ethyl benzoylformate. The reaction induced by cinchonidine was conducted in an undivided cell to produce the optically active ethyl mandelate. We obtained ethyl mandelate with 54% enantiomeric excess and 42% yield under the optimal conditions.

Nickel-based composite coatings reinforced by spherical tungsten carbide were deposited on 42CrMo alloy steel using plasma transfer arc welding (PTAW) process. Their electrochemical corrosion properties in NaCl solution under atmospheric and high pressure were studied by polarization curve, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The corrosion and erosion resistance of the coatings were also investigated by salt spray corrosion and erosion corrosion tests. The results show that the self-corrosion potential of the composite coatings increased with the increase of tungsten carbide content, and the Cr element in Ni60 sample formed a stable and compact passivation film. Compared with corrosion at atmospheric pressure, the adsorption and penetration of Cl- on the coating surface enhanced due to the increase of Cl- activity under pressure, thereby to weaken the corrosion resistance. The Samples that passivated in salt spray environment, cannot completely hinder the corrosion of the coating, just only to slow down the corrosion. This study can provide theoretical basis for deep-sea oil drilling and production engineering equipment.

Six new (1-6) and two known (7, 8) alkaloids that were chemically inseparable geometrical isomers (two isomers present in a 1:1 ratio for 1-4 and 6 and a 1:3 ratio for 5, 7, and 8) were identified from Stephania cepharantha. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic data analyses and comparison of their experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Moreover, using NOE correlations and DFT-based calculations, the NMR data of each geometrical isomer of 1-6 were assigned. The biological evaluation of 1-8 showed that 5 and 6 have stronger inhibitory effects (IC50 values, 12.0 and 12.6 μM, respectively) than minocycline (IC50 value, 17.5 μM) against NO production in overactivated BV2 cells, suggesting they have great potential in the development of neuroinflammatory therapeutics for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

There are several causes of chronic kidney disease, but all of these patients have renal fibrosis. Although many studies have examined the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis, there are still no effective treatments. A healthy and balanced metabolism is necessary for normal cell growth, proliferation, and function, but metabolic abnormalities can lead to pathological changes. Normal energy metabolism is particularly important for maintaining the structure and function of the kidneys because they consume large amounts of energy. We describe the metabolic reprogramming that occurs during renal fibrosis, which includes changes in fatty acid metabolism and glucose metabolism, and the relationship of these changes with renal fibrosis. We also describe the potential role of novel drugs that disrupt this metabolic reprogramming and the development of fibrosis, and current and future challenges in the treatment of fibrosis.

Ischemic stroke is a severe neurological disease without known effective therapy. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation plays an important role in ischemic stroke. Therefore, finding a safe and effective microglial activation inhibitor might lead to an effective therapeutic strategy against ischemic stroke. In this project, our goal was to explore both the mechanism and effect of pterostilbene in MCAO/R rats. The potential effect of pterostilbene on ischemic stroke was tested using MCAO/R rats and its effect on microglial activation was tested in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. In vivo, pterostilbene decreased the neurological scores, brain water content and infarct volume in MCAO/R rats. Pterostilbene increased the number of mature neurons, decreased the number of activated microglia, and reduced iNOS and IL-1β mRNA expression. Pterostilbene inhibited phosphorylated-IκBα expression, thus promoting IκBα expression and inhibiting ROS overexpression. In vitro, pterostilbene inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines and suppressed NAPDH activity as well as activation of both the NF-κB pathway and ROS production. To our knowledge, our study is the first to demonstrate that pterostilbene-mediated alleviation of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats may be correlated with the inhibition of the ROS/NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathway in microglia, indicating the potential for the use of pterostilbene as a candidate therapeutic compound for ischemic stroke.

Catalytic steam reforming of methane with Ni-based catalysts is essential for industrial hydrogen production, but the high reforming temperature results in the catalyst deactivation by severe carbon deposition. In this work, a novel electro-catalytic protocol for steam reforming of methane was developed with aims of lowering the reforming temperature and prolonging the catalyst life. Three Ni-based catalysts, i.e., Ni/γ-Al2O3 (Ni/Al2O3), Ni/γ-Al2O3-MgO (Ni/AM) and Ni-CeO2/γ-Al2O3-MgO (Ni-CeO2/AM) were prepared for electro-catalysis to investigate the effects of current intensity, reforming temperature, and steam to carbon ratio on methane conversion, H2 yield and CO selectivity. Moreover, stability tests were performed on the three catalysts. The results indicated that the presence of electric current promoted the methane steam reforming at relatively low temperatures. Among the three catalysts, Ni-CeO2/AM showed the best performance on catalytic efficiency. Under conditions of 600 °C and current of 4.5A, CH4 conversion, H2 yield and CO selectivity achieved 96.4%, 75.3% and 40.1% respectively over Ni-CeO2/AM, which were comparable with those from conventional process at 700 °C. Moreover, after a 9-hour stability test, the CH4 conversion was maintained over 95% under Ni-CeO2/AM. Characterization results of the catalysts from the stability texts showed that the current could help generate more active centers for CH4 activation while inhibit the conversion of coke precursors into carbon on the catalyst surface.

A phytochemical investigation of the aqueous EtOH extract of Bletilla striata tubers afforded 34 phenanthrene and 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives, including four new compounds, 1-4. These compounds were identified using physicochemical analyses and various spectroscopic methods. Twelve of these compounds were resolved into their enantiomers, and the absolute configurations were determined by comparison of experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The antineuroinflammatory activities were evaluated by measuring the inhibition of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Compounds 7, 32, and 33 displayed inhibitory activities, with IC50 values of 1.9, 5.0, and 1.0 μM, respectively, suggesting that they should be subjected to development as potential inhibitors of neuroinflammation.

Tough and conductive hydrogels are the promising materials for various applications. However, fabrication of these hydrogels at room or low temperatures, without external stimuli, is a challenge. H...

Neuroinflammation manifested by over-activation of microglial cells plays an essential role in neurodegenerative diseases. Short-term activation of microglia can be beneficial, but chronically activated microglia can aggravate neuronal dysfunction possibly by secreting potentially cytotoxic substances such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO), which can result in dysfunction and death of neurons. Therefore inhibiting over-activation of microglia and the production of cytotoxic intermediates may become an effective therapeutic approach for neuroinflammation. In this paper, we review our continuous research on natural inhibitors of over-activated microglia from traditional herbals, including flavonoids, lignans, sesquiterpene coumarins, and stilbenes.

Background: Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) is a mitochondrial encephalomyopathy caused by multiple mtDNA abnormalities. There is little information about the changes of ocular fundus with CPEO. The aim of this work was to measure and evaluate changes in the macular retinal thickness and optic nerve head in patients with CPEO using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and to compare the findings with those of healthy individuals. Methods: Totally, 18 CPEO patients were enrolled in this study. Healthy volunteers matched for gender, age, and diopter settings were included as a control group. The retinal thickness of macular central fovea, inner and outer retinal layer thickness of perifoveal macular, optic nerve head parameters, and peripapillay retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFLT) for all included cases were measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. A paired t test was used to compare the differences in the studied parameters between the two groups. The correlations between macular retinal thickness, pRNFLT, disease duration, and age of onset were also analyzed. Results: Among the macular parameters, retinal thickness of macular central fovea (t = -2.135, P < 0.05) and outer retinal layer thickness (t = -1.994, P < 0.05) of patients in the CPEO group were statistically significant lower than those of patients in the normal control group. For the optic nerve head parameters, the patients in the CPEO group showed a larger rim volume (t = -2.499, P < 0.05) and nerve head volume (t = -2.103, P < 0.05). The overall pRNFLT of patients in the CPEO group was statistically significant lower than that of patients in the control group (t = -4.125, P < 0.05). The comparison of pRNFLT in eight sectors showed that the pRNFLT of patients in the CPEO group was statistically significant lower than that of the control group mainly in the inferior and temporal sectors. The degree of pRNFL defect negatively correlated with the disease duration (r = -0.583, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The retinal thickness of patients with CPEO was significantly thinner, which was mostly the outer retina. The patients’ optic discs had a low volume and the loss of the retinal nerve fiber layer was obvious. With the extension of the disease duration, the retinal nerve fiber layer defect was even more significant. Key words: Optical coherence tomography; Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia; Retina; Nerve fiber layer

G-quadruplexes are the non-canonical nucleic acid structures that are preferentially formed in G-rich regions. This structure has been shown to be associated with many biological functions. Regardless of the broad efforts on DNA G-quadruplexes, we still have limited knowledge on RNA G-quadruplexes, especially in a transcriptome-wide manner. Herein, by integrating the DMS-seq and the bioinformatics pipeline, we profiled and depicted the RNA G-quadruplexes in the human transcriptome. The genes that contain RNA G-quadruplexes in their specific regions are significantly related to immune pathways and the COVID-19-related gene sets. Bioinformatics analysis reveals the potential regulatory functions of G-quadruplexes on miRNA targeting at the scale of the whole transcriptome. In addition, the G-quadruplexes are depleted in the putative, not the real, PAS-strong poly(A) sites, which may weaken the possibility of such sites being the real cleaved sites. In brief, our study provides insight into the potential function of RNA G-quadruplexes in post-transcription.

G-quadruplexes (G4), stable four-stranded non-canonical DNA structures, are highly related to function of promoters and initiation of gene transcription. We found that G4 structures were also enriched in the enhancers across different cell lines. However, the relationship between G4 structures and enhancer activity remains unknown. Here, we proved that G4 structures on enhancers lead to the re-positioning of nucleosomes create nucleosome depleted regions (NDRs). Moreover, stable NDRs and special secondary structures of G4 help enhancers to recruit abundant TFs to co-bind, especially for architectural proteins including CTCF, RAD21, and SMC3. These architectural proteins, which play critical roles in the formation of higher-order chromatin organization, further influenced the chromatin interactions of G4 enhancers. Additionally, we revealed that G4 enhancers harbored significantly higher enrichment of eQTLs than typical enhancers, suggesting G4 enhancers displayed more enhancer regulatory activity. We found that most super enhancers (SEs) contain G4 structures. Even though the enrichment of chromatin accessibility and histone modifications around G4-containing SEs are not significantly higher than those around other SEs, G4-containing SEs still possess much more TFs across different cell lines. According to these results, we proposed a model in which the formation of G4 structures on enhancer exclude nucleosome occupancy and recruit abundant TFs which lead to the stable chromatin interaction between G4 enhancers and their target genes. Because of the relevance between G4 structures and enhancers, we hypothesized that G4 structures may be a potential markers indicating enhancer regulatory activity.

Adhesive hydrogels have broad applications ranging from tissue engineering to bioelectronics; however, fabricating adhesive hydrogels with multiple functions remains a challenge. In this study, a mussel-inspired tannic acid chelated-Ag (TA-Ag) nanozyme with peroxidase (POD)-like activity was designed by the in situ reduction of ultrasmall Ag nanoparticles (NPs) with TA. The ultrasmall TA-Ag nanozyme exhibited high catalytic activity to induce hydrogel self-setting without external aid. The nanozyme retained abundant phenolic hydroxyl groups and maintained the dynamic redox balance of phenol-quinone, providing the hydrogels with long-term and repeatable adhesiveness, similar to the adhesion of mussels. The phenolic hydroxyl groups also afforded uniform distribution of the nanozyme in the hydrogel network, thereby improving its mechanical properties and conductivity. Furthermore, the nanozyme endowed the hydrogel with antibacterial activity through synergistic effects of the reactive oxygen species generated via POD-like catalytic reactions and the intrinsic bactericidal activity of Ag. Owing to these advantages, the ultrasmall TA-Ag nanozyme-catalyzed hydrogel could be effectively used as an adhesive, antibacterial, and implantable bioelectrode to detect bio-signals, and as a wound dressing to accelerate tissue regeneration while preventing infection. Therefore, this study provides a promising approach for the fabrication of adhesive hydrogel bioelectronics with multiple functions via mussel-inspired nanozyme catalysis., Graphical abstract A stable and efficient mussel-inspired nanozyme was developed by chelating ultrasmall Ag nanoparticles with tannic acid, and was employed to trigger hydrogel self-setting without external stimuli, and endow it with antibacterial, conductive, and adhesive properties in a facile manner for bioelectronics.Image 1, Highlights • The mussel-inspired nanozyme with ultrasmall size was developed by the in-situ reduction of Ag NP with TA. • The mussel-inspired nanozyme exhibited catalytic dynamic antibacterial activity. • The mussel-inspired nanozyme triggered self-gelation of hydrogel without external stimuli. • The mussel-inspired nanozyme endowed the hydrogel with adhesiveness. • The nanozyme enabled the hydrogel to be used as a multifunctional adhesive bioelectronic.

Diabetes, a metabolic disorder, is caused by a high blood sugar level. Diabetes is an increasing health issue and search for potent antidiabetic agents is desirable. Owing to its ethnomedicinal value, the Himalayan perennial herb Bergenia stracheyi (Hook. f. & Thoms.) Engl. (Saxifragaceae Juss) is used to treat diabetes. Herein, an efficient high-speed countercurrent chromatography with elution mode is reported for separation of active compounds from B. stracheyi. In current investigation, six main compounds including β-arbutin (1), bergenin (2), 6-O-galloylarbutin (3), gallic acid (4), 11-O-galloylbergenin (5), and (-)-epicatechin 3-O-gallate (6) with above 95% purity were efficiently separated in a single run using biphasic tert-butyl methyl ether/n-butanol/methanol/water (1:3:1:5, v/v/v/v) solvent system. The structures of these compounds were characterized using spectral techniques and compared with the literature. Antidiabetic and antioxidant activities evaluation of the study samples showed that β-arbutin (1) and 6-O-galloylarbutin (3) have a significant protective effect, especially at high dose against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative injury. Our results might help further in-depth phytochemical and biological evaluation studies in search of potent antidiabetic compounds from B. stracheyi.

In this work, a new chemiluminescence (CL) system of Co-Fe prussian blue analogs nanocubes (Co-Fe PBA NCs) that can catalyze luminol to produce strong CL in the absence of H2O2 was established. Co-Fe PBA NCs have the property of oxidase-like activity, and it can catalyze the generation of active oxygen radicals in a dissolved oxygen system. Since caffeic acid (CA) can remove reactive oxygen species in the system, a sensitive detection method for CA on a paper-based chip was developed. Under the optimal conditions, this method showed a good linear response to CA in the range of 10 - 800 ng mL-1 with a limit of 3 ng mL-1. The proposed method had been used for the determination of CA in tea samples. The results may open a new avenue for the catalytic property on luminol CL system without extra oxidants.

Background Increasing evidence has shown that microglia-induced neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Stepharine, one of the alkaloids extracted from Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers, exhibited strong inhibitory effect on microglial overactivation. However, it is not known whether it has the potential to prevent ischemic stroke. Methods The neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of stepharine were investigated in vivo and in vitro, using a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells, respectively. Results In vivo, stepharine (500 μg/kg) suppressed neurological deficits scores, brain water content and cerebral infarct volume induced by MCAO. Moreover, stepharine (500 μg/kg) inhibited NeuN+ cells loss and Iba-1+ cells increase in the MCAO ischemic cortex. In vitro, stepharine (10, 30 μM) substantially inhibited nitric oxide release as well as the mRNA and protein expression of pro-inflammatory mediators [inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1β] in LPS-activated BV-2 cells. LPS-induced increase of TLR4 expression, IκBα phosphorylation, and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation was inhibited by stepharine (10, 30 μM). Molecular docking analysis showed that stepharine directly interacted with TLR4. SPR assay further confirmed that stepharine could bind to the TLR4/MD2 complex. Meanwhile, stepharine exhibited neuroprotective effects on SH-SY5Y cells cultured with LPS-treated conditioned medium. Conclusion Our study demonstrated for the first time that stepharine improved the outcomes in MCAO rats, reduced neuronal loss, and suppressed microglial overactivation via the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB pathway. These results suggest that stepharine might be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Bacillus thuringiensis BMB181 (Bt BMB181), with high melanin production, is an ideal candidate for industrial scale production of light-stable insecticides. However, its melanogenic pathways remain unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that Bt BMB181 failed to produce melanin after treatment with mesotrione, an inhibitor of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase in the homogentisic acid pathway of melanin synthesis. Heterologous expression experiments suggested that homogentisate-1,2-dioxygenase (HmgA) in Bt BMB171 functions normally, yet HmgA in Bt BMB181 had lost its activity, at least partly. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, the hmgA gene in Bt BMB171 was knocked out and the mutant strain gained the ability to produce melanin. Furthermore, the complemented strain reverted to the wild-type phenotype. In addition, overexpression of its own hmgA gene in Bt BMB181 also resulted in failure to produce the pigment. BLAST results indicated that the amino acid alteration (G272E) in HmgA of Bt BMB181 was caused by a single point mutation (815G→ A). The enzyme activity of purified HmgA171 was more than 10-fold higher than that of HmgA181. Finally, we determined that the mutation in hmgA was responsible for melanin accumulation in Bt BMB181. Our results provided new insights into the synthesis and regulation of melanin production in B.thuringiensis and will promote its future industrial application.

Neuroinflammation is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, manifested by the microglial-released over-production of nitric oxide (NO). However, so far there is no effective strategy regarding curing or preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Triterpene saponins from Xanthoceras sorbifolium were proved to be capable of eliciting a protective effect in neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, a systematic chemical study on the 70% ethanol extract of X. sorbifolium was conducted, leading to the identification of 22 compounds, including four previously undescribed triterpenes saponins and 14 known ones, along with four alkaloids. Their structures were elucidated by physicochemical and spectral methods. The in vivo anti-AD effects of 1-18 were predicted with a field-based 3D-QSAR model and anti-neuroinflammatory activities were assayed in BV-2 cells by assessing LPS-induced NO production and examine levels of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 to support the predicted results. As a result, compounds 14, 16, 19, and 20 could have therapeutic potentials for neurodegenerative diseases due to their potent anti-neuroinflammatory activities.

In this study, three types of Fe(III) bipyridyl or phenanthroline (Fe(III)-L3 ) complex could directly catalyze 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to induce blue chromogenic changes without H2 O2 . Fe(III)-L3 complex could induce a colour change in TMB directly after a short incubation time. Due to the high oxidase-like activity of the Fe(III)-L3 complexes, superoxide anion radicals (O2 •- ) were formed in solution. Intermediates radical involving oxo-iron species were then produced that oxidized TMB to its oxidation products (oxTMB), which had an absorbance maximum at 652 nm. Glutathione (GSH) could inhibit the oxidation reaction of the Fe(III)-L3 complex-TMB system, a rapidly colorimetric method was established for the specific detection of GSH that had a detection limit of 0.1 μM. Furthermore, Fe(III)-L3 complexes could catalyze TMB to oxTMB directly without H2 O2 . This fast and simple colorimetric method may open a new avenue for application in the point-of-care diagnosis field using the TMB chromogenic system.

Nine undescribed (1–4, 6–10) sesquiterpene coumarins, together with a new natural one (5) and ten known ones (11–20), were isolated from the low polarity fraction of the 95% ethanol extract of the resin of Ferula sinkiangensis. Their structures were elucidated based on the comprehensive analysis of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR data. The absolute configurations were determined by comparison of experimental and calculated ECD spectra. All the identified SCs were evaluated for their anti-neuroinflammatory activities in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Ferusingensine G (8) displayed a significant inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production with an IC50 value of 1.2 μM. The results suggested that natural SCs might be served as potential neuroinflammatory inhibitors.

In this study, we reported the synthesis and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties of a new molecular system, comprised of six positional isomers. The presence of electron donor (D) and acceptor (A) units endows them with intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effects. We studied how changing the positions of the D/A units affects the AIE properties, ICT strength as well as the energy levels of the molecular orbitals. In addition, the self-assembly behaviors of them show distinct isomeric effect: With the D/A units repositioning, various self-assembly architectures with sizes ranging from microscale to nanoscale appear sequentially, including filaments, sheets, rods, irregular particles, needles, fibrous interlocking textures. It was verified that the D/A units on para-position that pose linear dipole-dipole interaction would favor the formation of well-defined structures, otherwise the resulting assembly would be underdeveloped or ill-shaped due to low degree of order in the molecular packing. This study probed the relationships between molecular structure and self-assembly behaviour, and further makes the self-assembly customizable.

Four undescribed spiro cyclohexandienonyl naphthalenes (acanthophyllas A–D) and a revised compound were isolated from the roots of Caragana acanthophylla Kom. (Fabaceae). They were identified using extensive spectroscopic data and via chemical methods. Three of them were resolved into their enantiomers, and their absolute configurations were confirmed by comparing the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activities of the compounds were investigated by evaluating their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 cells. Some compounds showed significant inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 8.8–13.4 μM (minocycline, IC50 7.8 μM), indicating that they might serve as potential therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases.

As the initiation of fermentation using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is always associated with a rapid drop in stress resistance, it is critical to develop yeast cells with elevated stress tolerances as well as normal growth and metabolite rates. In our study, the CYR1 promoter was serially truncated from the 3′end by 30 bp steps to finely modulating the activity of Adenylate cyclase, encoded by CYR1 and synthesizing cAMP from ATP. The constructed mutants AY15a-90 and AY15a-120, whose promoters carry 90- and 120-bp truncations, showed a 2- and 3-fold drop in adenylate cyclase activity, and improved heat and ethanol tolerances than AY15a. Interestingly, AY15a-90 and AY15a-120 also exhibited the same growth and fermentation rate as the strain AY15a. In very high gravity (VHG) fermentation at 40 °C, the yield of ethanol for AY15a-90 and AY15a-120 were 14% and 15% higher than that of AY15a, respectively. These results showed high stress tolerance and high fermentation activity could be compatible by finely modulating the expression of CYR1.

In this work, we synthesize a series of compounds with electron donor (D) and acceptor (A) units. They show general solvent effect in aprotic solvents, suggesting a charge transfer (CT) process. While in protic solvents including water, ethanol and methanol, the spectra exert no polarity-dependence but a remarkable hypochromatic shift together with the fading of CT band. Dynamic analysis implies that intermolecular hydrogen bond will be formed between carboxylic acid and protic solvent, boosting another deactivation pathway that jumps off a bigger energy gap, in other words, favoring the locally excited (LE) state emission. The CT-LE transition involves variations in both absorption and emission spectra, and further poses competition with other mechanisms including activated/restricted intramolecular rotation (IR/RIR). Inspired by the cross-reactivity, we turn our attention to the development of sensor array, in order to identify white wine varieties. The differential spectral responses are recorded, generating multiple factors including absorption wavelength (λab), emission wavelength (λem), absorbance (Abs.) and emission intensity (Int.). These factors are processed with principal component analysis (PCA), creating a three-dimensional fingerprint data base for white wines. The data points in the coordinate system are clustered into 10 different groups, demonstrating a clear differentiation of all the white wines. More importantly, as our final test for whether the sensor array can identify the counterfeits, an adulterated liquor sample, which is provided by police officers, is fingerprinted on the three-dimensional diagram. Its canonical factors fall into an area distinct from the adulterated wine, indicating a clear identification.

Background Tamarix species are well known as the main host plants of Herba Cistanches, a valuable Traditional Chinese Medicine. They are also traditional medicinal plants themselves and are used to treat spleen problems, leucoderma and ocular conditions. Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Tamarix hohenackeri Bunge. Methods In the present study, BV-2 microglial cells were used and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was tested using the MTT assay. The release of nitric oxide (NO) was determined using the Griess assay. The mRNA level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT–PCR). The protein levels of phosphorylated of IκBα, ERK and MEK, as well as the cytoplasmic and nuclear NF-κB p65 were tested by Western blot analysis. The translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit from the cytosol to the nucleus was investigated by immunofluorescence staining. Results Ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of Tamarix hohenackeri Bunge significantly inhibited the release of NO. Phytochemical research was performed to produce 13 main constituents. Among them, compounds 6, 7, 10 and 13 were identified to be the effective components with anti-inflammatory activity. These compounds significantly inhibited the production of NO by LPS-activated BV-2 microglial cells. qRT–PCR showed that compounds 6 and 7 significantly suppressed the LPS-induced transcription of genes encoding pro-inflammatory mediators, including iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Western blot analysis showed that compound 7 inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of IκBα and antagonized the LPS-induced reduction of cytoplasmic NF-κB p65 and the increase of nuclear NF-κB p65. Immunofluorescence staining showed that nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 was suppressed by compound 7. Western blot analysis showed that compound 7 inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK and MEK. Conclusion The present study revealed, for the first time, the effective anti-inflammatory agents from T. Hohenackeri. Compound 7 exerted potent anti-inflammatory effects and its underlying mechanism may be associated with its capacity to inhibit NF-κB signaling pathway and the MEK/ERK activation in activated microglia. The compound may be potential candidate therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases.

Twenty compounds, including 14 new α-acid derivatives, a new chromone, and five known compounds, were identified from the pistillate inflorescence of Humulus lupulus (hops), and their structures were elucidated via physical data analysis. The absolute configurations of new α-acid derivatives 1–11b were determined by comparing their computed and experimental electronic circular dichroism spectra using TDDFT and NMR spectroscopic data. A putative biosynthetic pathway for the identified components was deduced. Their antineuroinflammatory effects were assayed systematically, and their structure–activity relationships are discussed briefly. Among the identified compounds, compound 14 displayed moderate inhibitory effects against nitric oxide production with an IC50 value of 7.92 μM.

Because of the critical role of over-activated microglia in the progress of neurodegenerative diseases, it has been selected as a potential therapeutic target for drug discovery. In order to find natural neuroinflammatory inhibitors, we carried out a bioactivity-oriented phytochemical research of Caragana turfanensis Kom. (Krassn.), which is a folk medicine widely distributed in Xinjiang. As a result, a new coumarin lactone caraganolide A (1) and 35 known components were characterized from the effective extract of C. turfanensis. Furthermore, their anti-neuroinflammatory effects were evaluated in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells using Griess assay to determine the release of nitric oxide (NO). Compounds 1, 2, 4-6, 9, 13-15, 20, 29 and 30 exhibited significant inhibitory activities and no obvious cytotoxicities were observed at their effective concentrations. It is noteworthy, the new compound caraganolide A (1) (IC50 1.01±1.57µM) and 3',7,8-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (5) (IC506.87±2.23µM) exhibited more excellent action than that of positive control minocycline (IC50 9.07±0.86μM).

Ettringite, as one of the hydration products of cement paste, has attracted the attention of pavement engineers recently. In this paper, a concise and comprehensive multi-scale modelling approach is presented to study the Mode I fracture based on the continuum level tool Phase-field Theory (PFT) and the atomistic level tool Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulation. The PFT is a new modelling and computational tool used to predict the crack propagation using a phase-field variable, which assumes to be positive one in the intact solid and negative one in the crack region. Realising the fact that at the crack tip, the PFT is unable to deal with the singularity of stress and strain, and thus we use the MD Simulation to further investigate mechanical performances at a finer level. By the energy coupling the two different approaches at the crack tip, we present the two-way multi-scale coupling simulation of ettringite to simulate Mode I cracking fracture. The comparison between our multi-scale results with results fr...

Vip3Aa, a soluble protein produced by certain Bacillus thuringiensis strains, is capable of inducing apoptosis in Sf9 cells. However, the apoptosis mechanism triggered by Vip3Aa is unclear. In this study, we found that Vip3Aa induces mitochondrial dysfunction, as evidenced by signs of collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, release of cytochrome c, and caspase-9 and -3 activation. Meanwhile, our results indicated that Vip3Aa reduces the ability of lysosomes in Sf9 cells to retain acridine orange. Moreover, pretreatment with Z-Phe-Tyr-CHO (a cathepsin L inhibitor) or pepstatin (a cathepsin D inhibitor) increased Sf9 cell viability, reduced cytochrome c release, and decreased caspase-9 and -3 activity. In conclusion, our findings suggested that Vip3Aa promotes Sf9 cell apoptosis by mitochondrial dysfunction, and lysosomes also play a vital role in the action of Vip3Aa.

Neuroinflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders. In our screening of natural effective neuroinflammatory inhibitors from natural products, stilbenes, such as resveratrol and its analogues, have received considerable attention over the last several decades as anti-neuroinflammatory agents. Then, Bletilla striata attracted our attention due to its abundant stilbenes portion, PE fraction. So, three new stilbenes: dusuanlansin E1 (23a), dusuanlansin E2 (23b), 3-hydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl-3'-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (27), and 30 known stilbene compounds were isolated from B. striata. These structures of the compounds were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR and circular dichroism (CD) data. Furthermore, all the isolated components were tested in vitro for their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide generation in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. As a result, compounds 2, 5, 6, 16, 17 can greatly inhibit the NO production without cytotoxicity. In addition, SARs between stilbenes and anti-neuroinflammation effects were discussed briefly. In conclusion, stilbenes were characteristic constituents of the tubers of B. striata with potential anti- neuroinflammatory effects.

Ischemic stroke is a global disease with high disability and mortality rates. Cognitive impairment is one of the major clinical features of ischemic stroke, and microglia-mediated inflammation has been shown to be an important contributor to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Kellerin, extracted from Ferula sinkiangensis, was previously shown to inhibit microglial activation and exert a strong anti-neuroinflammatory effect. However, there is no report of the potential therapeutic effect of kellerin on ischemic stroke by targeting microglial cells. In this study, we wanted to examine the effects of kellerin on ischemic stroke in the bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) model and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia model. We found that kellerin alleviated cognitive impairment, decreased neuronal loss, suppressed microglial activation, and transformed microglia from the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype in BCCAO mice. Moreover, in in vitro studies, we found that kellerin regulated microglial polarization and inhibited the NLRP3 and MAPK signaling pathways after LPS treatment. These findings provide a new understanding of the function of kellerin in ischemic stroke, and suggest that kellerin could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Modulating inflammatory responses after stroke can prevent brain injury and, therefore, improve neurological outcome. Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers is a Chinese folk medicine with the function of dispelling the "wind and blockage" in the human body according to the Chinese medicine theory, in which the symptoms of stroke are caused by the "wind and blockage" in the body. In this paper, we for the first time linked S. japonica to stroke by clarifying fifteen alkaloidal constituents including five undescribed (1-5) ones and screening out six hasubanan type alkaloids (1-4, 7, 15) that elicited stronger anti-neuroinflammatory activities than the positive drug. Moreover, the total alkaloid fraction (ASJ) with previously undescribed 3 as the main component was subject to the in vivo evaluation of the protective effect in the MCAO-induced brain injury. The results showed that ASJ exhibited potent protective effect against brain injury in the MCAO rat model. The results reported in this paper suggested that the hasubanan alkaloids from S. japonica would be an important molecular source for discovering novel therapeutic agents for neuroinflammation-related diseases, such as stroke diseases.

Eight previously undescribed and 15 known components, including six neolignans, two monolignan, three sesquineolignans, three dineolignans, eight phenylpropanoids, and one steroid were identified from the seed testa of Vernicia fordii. Their structures were established based on the comprehensive analysis of NMR and ECD data. The anti-neuroinflammatory effects of the isolates were evaluated through nitrite assays in LPS-induced BV2 cells. As a result, isodiverniciasin A, diverniciasin B, diverniciasin C, isoprincepin, princepin, 3, 3'-bisdemethylpinoresinol, (+)-7-epi-sesamin-dicatechol, isoamericanin A, americanin B, 7S, 8R-americanin D, 4-hydroxyl cinnamic aldehyde, 3-hydroxyl-4-methoxyl cinnamic aldehyde and 24R-6β-hydroxy-24- ethylcholest-4-en-3-one exhibited significant inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production and isoprincepin, princepin, americanin B, and 4-hydroxyl cinnamic aldehyde suppressed the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in over-activated microglia. The results suggested that bioactive ingredients from the seed testa of V. fordii can serve as potential therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases.

Stretchable and compressible conductor with a 3D structure has received widespread attention in smart robotics and deformable electronics, because of its special mechano-electrical properties. However, the poor mechanical properties, low electrical conductivity and unstable performance during deformation process are still the biggest technical bottlenecks. In this work, a stretchable and compressible conductive foam with stable mechano-electrical properties was comprised of copper nanowires (Cu NWs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) that were wrapped firmly on flame-retardant ethylene-vinyl acetate (FR-EVA) skeleton. The 3D porous FR-EVA matrix with sufficient internal space provided a remarkable mechanicaldeformability for the composites foam. Additionally, the excellent conductivity of composites foam was mainly derived from the well-connected Cu NW networks, which were welded by chemical steam reduction method. Finally, the MWCNTs not only significantly improved the adhesion between the Cu NWs and FR-EVA skeleton but also effectively overcame the Cu NWs oxidation. Consequently, the 3D conductive composites foam possessed an excellent electrical conductivity (R = 2.40 Ω), mechanical stability (R/R0

A series of ordered mesoporous carbons loaded with different contents of NiCo2O4 (X-NiCo2O4/OMC) were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and proposed as a catalyst for electrocarboxylation of benzophenone for the first time. The materials were characterized by many measurements, which showed mesoporous structures with high surface area, good dispersion and stability. What's more, the materials exhibit good electrocatalytic performance due to its good ability to capture CO2 and accelerate reaction rate, which brought by redox couples (Ni3+/Ni2+, Co3+/Co2+) and vacancy defects of NiCo2O4. The optimal yield of methyl benzilate reaches 86% on 3-NiCo2O4/OMC.

Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases. In our previous work on natural effective neuroinflammatory inhibitors, Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. (Leguminosae), a folk medicine widely distributed in Xinjiang, attracted our attention because of its significant anti-neuroinflammatory effect. Therefore, further investigation of the bioactive material basis was carried out. As a result, 33 major components were characterized and identified by chromatographic and spectral methods, respectively. Furthermore, the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of the extract and purified constituents were evaluated in LPS-induced N9 cells in vitro. The results displayed that compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 33 could exhibit significant inhibitory activities without obvious cytotoxicities at their effective concentrations. Especially, isorhamnetin (1) (IC50 17.87μM), quercetin (2) (10.22μM), 3',7-dihydroxyl-4'-methoxylisoflavone (5) (17.43μM), 3',7-dihydroxyl-4',6-dimethoxylisoflavone (6) (11.21μM), syringgaresinol (16) (2.68μM), bombasinol A (17) (7.61μM), aurantiamide (23) (14.91μM) and 1,3,3,4-tetramethyl cyclopentene (33) (2.63μM) showed much stronger inhibiting effect than that of the positive control minocycline (19.89μM). Therefore, the effective compositions might be responsible for the significant neuroinflammation inhibitory activities exhibited by the herb. Moreover, compounds 16 and 33 could be good leading compounds for the development of potential therapeutic agents against neurodegenerative diseases.

We aimed to investigate the differences in renal histopathological changes and laboratory parameters between adult and pediatric patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN), and to analyze the correlation between laboratory parameters and renal histopathological grading. A total of 139 patients diagnosed with HSPN between September 2010 and December 2014 at the First Hospital of Jilin University, China, were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical and pathological characteristics were examined and compared between the adult and the pediatric patients. A majority of adult (75.0%) and pediatric (66.2%) patients were categorized as pathological grade III HSPN. Adults having crescent lesions, interstitial fibrosis and renal artery involvement significantly outnumbered child counterparts (all P

Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge is a medicinal plant and also a valuable cash crop used for production of edible oil and biofuels in China. In our previous research, systematical phytochemical and bioactive profiles of different parts from X. sorbifolia have been obtained. Here we describe the effective phenols from the leaves of X. sorbifolia, which could function as natural neuroinflammation inhibitors. As a result, 23 compounds were characterized as the phenols from the leaves of X. sorbifolia by means of chromatographical methods and spectroscopic analysis. Among them, flavonoids quercetin3-O-β-d-glucopyarnoside (IC50 13.39±1.27μM), catechin (IC50 9.52±2.18μM), and phenylpropanoids syringaresinol-4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (IC50 3.08±1.77μM), 4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-trans-p-coumaric acid (IC50 9.08±1.23μM) exhibited much stronger inhibiting effect on NO production than that of the positive control minocycline (IC50 37.04±2.09μM) in LPS-induced BV2 cells.

Neuroinflammation mediated by microglia cells plays a critical role in the development of Alzheimer′s disease. To identify novel natural neuroinflammation inhibitors, a bioactivity-guided phytochemical research was performed on the traditional Chinese medicine “Awei”, that exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in over-activated microglia cells. The research identified sixteen bioactive sesquiterpene coumarins (two new and fourteen known ones) in the effective extract of Ferula sinkiangensis. Further, the anti-neuroinflammatory activities in BV-2 microglial cells were evaluated by monitoring LPS-induced nitric oxide production. In conclusion, the major constituent, (3′S, 5′S, 8′R, 9′S, 10′R)-kellerin (1.5 %, w/w), should be responsible for the anti-neuroinflammatory effect exhibited by Awei. Furthermore, it might be a potential natural therapeutic agent for Alzheimer′s disease. The research indicated moreover, that its primary mechanism is the inhibition of mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and its development and progression are affected by various factors. The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for SHPT in patients with CKD. A retrospective study was performed in 498 patients (305 males and 193 females) with CKD, observed in the The First Hospital of Jilin University between January 2008 and December 2012. The demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. Patients were divided into the SHPT group (n=424) with elevated serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) expression levels and the control group (n=74) with normal serum PTH expression levels. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to explore the risk factors for SHPT. Serum PTH expression levels in women with CKD were significantly higher than in men (P=0.047). Serum PTH expression levels were positively correlated with the expression levels of serum creatinine (P

A series of C sphere-loaded high-dispersion Cu nanoparticles (Cu/CS) was designed and prepared as cathode material for the electrocatalytic cycloaddition of CO2 and epoxides to form cyclic carbonates at room temperature and normal pressure. Materials were prepared using a simple one-pot method combined with calcination under N2 atmosphere. A series of characterisation was conducted to determine the material characteristics, such as composition, content, morphology and structure. Results showed that Cu nanoparticles were dispersed evenly on the C sphere with high specific surface area (> 395 m2/g) and large pore volume (0.2 m3/g). Among them, the Cu/CS-II cathode material with a yield of 94.7% possessed the best catalytic effect for CO2 and propylene oxide to form propylene carbonate. The materials were found to have good universality by expanding different substrates. Moreover, the reuse of the cathode material without a remarkable reduction in yield indicated that the material had good stability.

Stephania epigaea H. S. Lo is a folk medicine widely distributed in the south of China, especially in Yunnan and Guangxi province. An in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory study showed that total alkaloids of it can potently inhibit LPS-induced NO releasing of BV2 cells with an IC50 value of 10.05 ± 2.03 μg/mL (minocycline as the positive drug, IC50 15.49 ± 2.14 μM). The phytochemical investigation of the total alkaloids afforded three new phenanthrene (1–3), two lactams (4a, 4b), and nine aporphine derivatives (5–13). The final structure of 1 was identified by computer-assisted structure elucidation (ACD/Structure Elucidator software and the 13C NMR calculation with GIAO method) due to many possibilities of the substituent pattern. All isolates were evaluated for their anti-neuroinflammatory effects, and as a result, 5, 8, 10, and 11 exhibited stronger inhibitory activities than the minocycline. The results suggested S. epigaea could provide potential therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases.

SCOPE In the present study, effect of pterostilbene on β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42 ) induced cognitive impairment in mice is investigated and explored its possible mechanism of action. METHODS AND RESULTS The behavior results show that pterostilbene alleviated Aβ1-42 -induces cognitive dysfunction assessed using the Y-maze test, novel object recognition task, Morris water maze test, and passive avoidance test. Pterostilbene alleviates neuron loss and accumulation of reactive oxygen species in Aβ1-42 treated mouse brain. Additionally, pterostilbene promotes nuclear factor-E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation and enhance the transcription and expression of antioxidant genes such as heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutase both in vivo and in vitro. Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 reverses the antioxidant function of pterostilbene in SH-SY5Y cells. Nrf2 is the master regulator of oxidative homeostasis and can be activated by substrate adaptor sequestosome-1 (also named p62). Pterostilbene promotes the binding of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 and p62, which enhanced activation of Nrf2. CONCLUSION The present study reports that pterostilbene alleviated Aβ1-42 -induces cognitive dysfunction in mice. The mechanism of pterostilbene can be associated to the inhibition of oxidative stress through the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Vernicia montana Lour. (tung tree) is an oil-producing plant with multiple uses, especially with its great potential in biodiesel production, which was a small Asian tree of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) with big economic values. However, studies on small molecular compositions of V. montana are limited. As a result, seven new lignans and one new coumacrin, and 21 known lignans, were isolated from the testas of V. montana. These isolates were confirmed in the light of spectroscopic tools (containing 1D and 2D NMR), ECD spectra methods. These isolates and crude extracts were evaluated their inhibitory activities using LPS-induced BV2 cells by assessing the NO production. Among them, compounds 3, 5, 6, 22 displayed significant effects, IC50 values about 11.4–20.9 μM. Together, the results demonstrated that lignans might be potential neuroinflammatory inhibitors.